Raphinha

[Cjay]

Not included in the Australia tour.

[lufc1304]

Personally I'm tired of this whole saga. Obvious for a while now that he wants to move, preferably to Barca. Wish they'd get it done and we can move on. Good luck to him, should be playing in the CL year in, year out and we were never going to be anything other than a stepping stone. Thanks, Rapha, now off you pop and let those who want to play for us get on with it.

[Cjay]

Barcelona have released there latest accounts.

They owe clubs around £106million in transfer fees including still owing Liverpool just over £20million for Phillipe Coutinho.

They also still owe Real Betis millions for Junior Firpo.

[andrewjohnsmith]

Barcelona have released there latest accounts.

They owe clubs around £106million in transfer fees including still owing Liverpool just over £20million for Phillipe Coutinho.

They also still owe Real Betis millions for Junior Firpo.

They're selling future TV receipts. Sounds like Ridsdale accounting. Hope they don't get an installment deal, then go bankrupt. They probably lost money gambling on the super league too.

[Lumiukko]

They're selling future TV receipts. Sounds like Ridsdale accounting. Hope they don't get an installment deal, then go bankrupt. They probably lost money gambling on the super league too.

This whole saga brings out a bit of a side of me I didn't know existed. I desperately want Barcelona to have a huge financial collapse, get punished with points deductions or similar thrown out of competitions, and for it to happen during Raphinha's first season there. The sort of grass is not always greener. A kind of karma I suppose.

[andrewjohnsmith]

This whole saga brings out a bit of a side of me I didn't know existed. I desperately want Barcelona to have a huge financial collapse, get punished with points deductions or similar thrown out of competitions, and for it to happen during Raphinha's first season there. The sort of grass is not always greener. A kind of karma I suppose.

Careful what you wish for. We might not get paid. But if that happened - let's say Raphinha wasn't paid for and they go bankrupt - would we get him back?

[The Subhuman]

Careful what you wish for. We might not get paid. But if that happened - let's say Raphinha wasn't paid for and they go bankrupt - would we get him back?

I'd like to see a !don't pay he reverts to Leeds! contingency in place if such a thing can be achieved, might be wishful thinking there..

[Lumiukko]

Careful what you wish for. We might not get paid. But if that happened - let's say Raphinha wasn't paid for and they go bankrupt - would we get him back?

Indeed, I was just reading elsewhere about what would happen to the money owed to us in a deal done by installments, if Barcelona went bankrupt and it's not pretty reading. I'm also reading that there is very serious concern about Barca's ability to survive and the level of their financial jiggerypokery makes Peter Ridsdale seem as successful as Warren Buffet.

But if the worst was to happen and we're owed significant money for Raphinha, I read we would never see it again (apart from something like 2% of his value), and we still wouldn't get Raphinha back. Not sure how correct that is as that side of football business and Administration/bankruptcy I have very little knowledge on.

[March712]

Indeed, I was just reading elsewhere about what would happen to the money owed to us in a deal done by installments, if Barcelona went bankrupt and it's not pretty reading. I'm also reading that there is very serious concern about Barca's ability to survive and the level of their financial jiggerypokery makes Peter Ridsdale seem as successful as Warren Buffet.

But if the worst was to happen and we're owed significant money for Raphinha, I read we would never see it again (apart from something like 2% of his value), and we still wouldn't get Raphinha back. Not sure how correct that is as that side of football business and Administration/bankruptcy I have very little knowledge on.

To my mind, proposing to sell our most valuable asset to a club on the brink of financial oblivion and knowingly accepting an instalment arrangement, that the vast majority of sensible people can see is not going to be honoured, would be sheer lunacy.

If we sell him to Barcelona and take anything but all the money up-front, then it will end poorly for Leeds United.

Chelsea for £65m now and if he does not want that (or they no longer do), then he stays put, happy or not, unless another solvent suitor comes forward, which I suspect one or two would.

[Ellandback1]

Goalkeepers: Harry Christy, Kristoffer Klaesson, Illan Meslier

Defenders: Liam Cooper, Leif Davis, Cody Drameh, Leo Hjelde, Robin Koch, Rasmus Kristensen, Diego Llorente, Pascal Struijk

Midfielders: Brenden Aaronson, Tyler Adams, Adam Forshaw, Archie Gray, Darko Gyabi, Mateusz Klich, Marc Roca

Forwards: Patrick Bamford, Joe Gelhardt, Sam Greenwood, Jack Harrison, Daniel James, Rodrigo, Luis Sinisterra, Crysencio Summerville

[Finnatic]

Don’t know if Bate is injured but if not I can see why he might not be included.
Judging by the videos we saw for Chelsea’s youth team he looked Philipsesque (deep lying and pinging long accurate passes to the wings)
Now we channel shorter passes through the middle and occasionally create space on the wings with our full backs, I’m not sure Bate fits or has adapted (KP looked slight out of sorts for Marsch when he came back for on injury)
Bate doesn’t have an aggressive presence either when defending so Adams would fill that spot.
I think Bate is a talented player but maybe he would suit MB more than JM.

[Rook]

I so dearly want PSG or Real Madrid to swoop in for Raphinha.

I can't bear the prospect of him going to Chelsea.

[White Riot]

Looks like Chelsea got fed up waiting and are signing Sterling instead.

We've sold out two prize assets for cheaper than we would have hoped for.

I think Raphinha can't be the sharpest tool in the box when he's pushed for a move to a club that may not pay his wages and end up bankrupt.

He must like Deco's bedtime fairytales

[andrewjohnsmith]

Don’t know if Bate is injured but if not I can see why he might not be included.
Judging by the videos we saw for Chelsea’s youth team he looked Philipsesque (deep lying and pinging long accurate passes to the wings)
Now we channel shorter passes through the middle and occasionally create space on the wings with our full backs, I’m not sure Bate fits or has adapted (KP looked slight out of sorts for Marsch when he came back for on injury)
Bate doesn’t have an aggressive presence either when defending so Adams would fill that spot.
I think Bate is a talented player but maybe he would suit MB more than JM.

Australia squad is on a different thread. But I will add that Bate is not Phillips. He's not as aggressive. But he's much more dynamic and attacking, runs with the ball really well. For that, Marsch doesn't really need a replica of Phillips. Bielsa played one DM. He needed someone who could carry that load by himself. Marsch plays 2. So he doesnt put as much weight on one player. With 2 DM's, he can afford for them to be less physically strong than Phillips and more dynamic going forward,

[Finnatic]

Australia squad is on a different thread. But I will add that Bate is not Phillips. He's not as aggressive. But he's much more dynamic and attacking, runs with the ball really well. For that, Marsch doesn't really need a replica of Phillips. Bielsa played one DM. He needed someone who could carry that load by himself. Marsch plays 2. So he doesnt put as much weight on one player. With 2 DM's, he can afford for them to be less physically strong than Phillips and more dynamic going forward,

That’s why I don’t think Bate features or is lower down the pecking order.
JM has Roca and Adams above him, imo

[Cjay]

Would rather not face Raph in the league next season.

But after how Barcelona have behaved and the fact they have tried bullying us by using the media I don't like the idea of him going there either (even though they are my 2nd team).

Furthermore given the financial issues they have it could be literally years before we get the full fee (if at all).

But seeing him in a Chelsea shirt would hurt.

Why can't PSG or Real Madrid just come in and buy him

Not sure which of Chelsea or Barcelona I'd prefer.

[1964white]

I'd rather accept the full monies from Chelsea than take the risk of losing out financially by selling him to the strapped cash Barcelona.

[Orange Box]

Decades ago when I was self employed and struggling to find new customers a man I respected gave me some advice. He said “no business is better than bad business “.

Barcelona to me seems bad business.

[Cjay]

And round and round we go

[Cjay]

Daily Mail guy reported similar to and the same fee